Fabrication, Structure, and Mechanical and Ultrasonic Properties of Medical Ti6Al4V Alloys Part II: Relationship between Microstructure and Mechanical Properties and Ultrasonic Properties of Ultrasonic Scalpel

Abstract

In this study, the ultrasonic resonance parameters of Ti6Al4V alloys under different heat treatments are measured by an impedance analyzer. The amplitude of the specimens is measured experimentally by means of optical microscope and image analysis software. These results show that the ultrasonic properties of Ti6Al4V alloys are closely related to β phase content and elastic modulus of the alloys. The highest volume fraction of the β phase appears in the specimen treated by solid solution treatment at 960 °C is 40.2%. These alloys present the lowest average elastic modulus (~99.69 GPa) and the minimum resonant frequency (55.06 kHz) and the highest average amplitude (21.48 µm) when the testing sample length is 41.25 mm. These findings can be used to guide the design of medical Ti6Al4V alloys for ultrasonic scalpels.